I normally welcome a new Orphan X thriller with Evan Smoak, aka the Nowhere Man. Evan is unusually vulnerable when trying to visit Mia Hall in hospital & is captured by the Secret Service. US President Victoria Donahue-Cane feels her informal pardon for Evan has been violated & gives him an opportunity to redeem himself by killing a man named Luke Devine. But Evan has a code to only kill if the person really deserves such a fate, so he spends a lot of time investigating a double murder, talking with Devine's ex-girlfriend, the parents & sister of one of the murder victims & Devine himself.

As a result, this book lacks the gadgets, non-stop action and thrills of previous Orphan X books. Evan also needs more help from teenage hacker Joey Morales, armorer Tommy Slojack & the dangerous Candy McClure aka Orphan V to complete his mission.

This was my least liked book in the Orphan X series but the cryptic ending does provide options for where the next story.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Minotaur Books. All opinions are my own.

Another top notch book in this series, I absolutely loved it. I will be recommending same to all of my students, they too need to purchase a copy as part of their extraordinary Orphan X collection. Thanks again to Mr. Hurwitz for another great release. Thanks also goes to NetGalley for an advance copy of this title in exchange for my honest opinion.

To be honest, I forgot about the Nowhere Man series. I don't know why as I have enjoyed the previous books by Gregg Hurwitz. Like a Jack Reacher, Evan Smoak is a loner and renegade who makes his own rules. However, this took a turn as now the President controls the agenda. This was a fast paced, good read. I need to go back and fill in the gaps by reading the other books in the series. As a side, I do not feel you need to read these books in order. They do stand on their own.

Thank you NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy.

Gregg Hurwitz, one of my favorite authors, is back with the eighth Orphan X thriller. After working as an assassin for the government under a secret program that trained orphans to kill, Evan had his fill and walked away. He now uses his talents to help people who have nowhere else to turn. He was given an informal pardon from the President on the condition that he stop answering those calls for help. When he continued, an operation was set in motion to find and capture him. Threatened with charges of treason, he is given one more chance. Luke Devine, who the President feels is a threat to national security, must be assassinated. Evan is done with government sanctions, but when he finds ties between Devine and the murder of two young people it warrants his attention. Devine is powerful and manipulative. Is he also a murderer?

Hurwitz takes you on a roller coaster ride with The Last Orphan. Scenes with returning characters show humor in his exchanges with Tommy, who provides his armor and special vehicles, and Candy, another trained assassin from the orphan program. He also displays his affection for his neighbor’s son and Josephine (Joey) Morales, an independent teenager who supplies tech support. Then there are the scenes that will have you on the edge of your seat. His confrontations with Devine’s security and his capture by the FBI are beautifully executed and show why you can not go wrong with a Gregg Hurwitz novel. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing this book or my review.

In a life altering adventure, Orphan X is challenged in ways he’s never been challenged before. With traumatizing lives that people live, is the sole survivor of a dark sanctioned government assassination program going to be the person to help deliver restitution?

At one of the most magnificent homes in the world, Luke Devine is hosting the party for the ages. One that will fulfill every fantasy and necessity one could imagine. But it just might be the party that prevents some from never aging again. Across the pond, Smoak is in Iceland enjoying one of the most desired glacial vodkas ever created and where the ass whoopings begin.

I don’t know what it feels like, but I imagine being on the run from the feds can’t be a great feeling. Never a good moment to get rolled up by Naomi Templeton, someone who you know has been trying to keep tabs on you. As Smoak is forced to comply with law enforcement to prevent breaking his code, he’s been summoned by the most powerful person on the face of the earth. After being cornered and locked down, Smoak gets direction from the President of the United States to execute or face the cancellation of his immunity. What ensues is a journey that will force Evan to evaluate who he is and why he is doing the things he has done. His moral compass has been true to course over the years, but there is always insider information that could sway the actions or help him understand why those actions are being taken.

Orphan X is a unique example of what can go right and go wrong with the governments putting their hand on everything. X drives a hard-hitting Mack truck through any and everything that stops him but what happens when he is forced to dive deep into a situation and understand what is really going on? Driven by a quest for helping the little guy, X gets himself into the dark realm of the bad guys only to find more than meets the eye.

Vicious action, sprinkled with a deep rooted need-for-truth drive this Hurwitz masterpiece. Evan Smoak is a complicated person, that’s easy to see and absolutely understandable. But when life starts throwing him curveballs that force him to re-evaluate, you might wonder if X has lost his edge. Orphan X has been a pulse pounding punch delivering tool for years, but has the time come to become a more methodical instrument of war?

https://onereadingnurse.com/2023/02/07/7803/


Thank you so much to Minotaur Books for the early copy of The Last Orphan. I needed new X in my life! This is another solid installment in the Orphan X series, a fast paced read that presents a little less action with a more human side to Evan and the crew.

MY THOUGHTS:
I’ve really enjoyed the Orphan X books so far. Like most series of this type, the author has to find ways to keep the books fresh and moving forward or they face the chance of repetitive material becoming stale.

Thankfully I don’t think X is stale yet. If you’ve never read the series, each book does stand alone just fine but I think you’ll appreciate the characters more if you know the whole story.

Here the Mia storyline comes to a close, Evan is rattled enough to make a mistake, and an encounter with a brilliantly powerful man makes him more introspective than usual. Has he finally found his match? Aragon (from the last book) makes an appearance, Tommy is back, and Joey & Dog are here as well. Even Orphan V has a small role. Do y’all think Vera III is still alive?

There’s plenty of action too. I missed the hi tech stuff and major operations that feature more prominently in other books but like I said, sometimes doing things differently is the best way to keep it fresh. The Last Orphan is a fast read and I love the mostly funny chapter titles.

I docked a star because it’s bogged down a bit with long talks and philosophy (from Devine), but don’t worry, there’s a reminder or three that Evan is still actually a deadly assassin. Seeing the bad guys get what’s coming to them is great. That said, I also liked the glints from his pre-orphan life too, hinting that we might get more “human Evan” in the next book.

Can’t wait to see where this series goes next!

.....

Thanks for checking out my book review of The Last Orphan by Gregg Andrew Hurwitz. I received my e-copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, and as always, all opinions are my own ♥️

Great addition to the series. The president wants Orphan X to complete a mission. X has standards does he or doesn’t he? love the slow development of X’s relationship with Joey and Candy and we have a new fireball in the midst of this one. A new storyline is also opening up.

Guest Review from Glenn:

4 1/2 Stars

Evan Smoak is a killer with a heart. I LOVE the Orphan X series. Although this could technically be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading from the beginning. I felt nervous for Evan in this latest installment of the series (well, more than usual!) because really, the government could have come after him at any time. Instead they need his help again.

I really like his interactions with his usual group of Tommy, Candy and Joey. As well, Evan has OCD so his young neighbor might just drive him crazy. All this makes Evan sound very human and he is, but he did seem “off” in this novel. I love how the author has Evan grow as a character. Her might be a brilliant assassin but he still doesn’t know what to bring to a dinner party.

I can’t say enough about this series and this book. I alternated between the eBook and the audiobook and once again, Scott Brick does a masterful job at narrating. His narration literally makes the book. If this series was made into a movie, it would be a blockbuster. I can’t wait to see what’s next for the Nowhere Man.

Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy and audiobook via NetGalley.

This is the 8th book in the Orphan X series, one of my favorite thriller series. Evan Smoak is a great, complex character who is growing in his humanity. He was a part of the Orphan program, run by the government. Evan left the program and started helping people who were helpless, but made some enemies along the way. I recommend starting with the first Orphan X book, this one stands alone, but the back stories are helpful. It's fast paced, with some interesting twists and turns.
Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martins Press for my review copy.

Evan Smoak, the Nowhere Man aka Orphan X, is back in this latest propulsive at times over the top tale of an assassin who now uses his ahem talents to help those who are in trouble. This time, however, the President of the US has him grabbed because she wants him to take out a business mogul who is causing trouble for her and for the world but is there a human element to this that will satisfy Evan? Yes, the brutal murder of a young man at the villain's estate and the threats against his sister. This sees Evan work with Joey, Candy, and Tommy (fans of the series will be happy to see more of these last two), and borrowing planes from one of his last clients. Yes there's a lot of violence (much of it cartoonish) but there's also a strong humanity in Evan's approach to life- to his caring for Joey, his cacti, his OCD, and how he treats others. There is only a glimpse of Mia and Peter here (hopefully there will be more in the next one). I'm a fan of the series (it's such a guilty pleasure) but I think a new reader would be fine with this as a standalone (Hurwitz gives good background). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This was a great page turning read.

If you're a follower of this series and/or a fan of Evan Smoak, you will likely enjoy this installment as well. I've read several in the series but admittedly, have skipped a few. While this story can be read as a standalone, there are continuing story arcs and character reappearances that will be far more enriched by reading the prior books.

Evan lives by a list of commandments. He's the guy who blends in the crowd but can kill you with a paperclip. I don't want to ruin any of the twists and turns in the storyline, but I did see a more human side to Evan in this one and how that affected his mastery of skills. There's also less of Mia and Peter than in the other books and more Candy (she's such a rockstar).

The action-packed pacing is steady and perfectly penned. There's a ton of brand name dropping and extremely detailed explanations, but if you've read another Orphan X book, you know to expect that. The mystery/suspense had me turning the page and battling between racing through to find out and slowing down to enjoy each scene. Overall, this was another great addition in this exceptional series filled with action, mystery, and suspense.

/I received an advanced edition of this book via NetGalley. This did not affect my opinion of the book or content of my review./

This is the eighth book in the series, and while you don't have to have read the other books in the series I think once you read one you'll want to go back and read them all. That's what happened to me! I started with book 6 then just had to go back and start from the beginning!

Evan has gotten into a bit of trouble with the president, and she has asked him for a.. well not a favor exactly, but she has a deal for him... if only she would have asked instead of capturing him... and if only he cared at all about what she was asking. But he agrees to look into the situation, only look, at least until he finds something that aligns with what he stands for.. and he does. he meets a young woman named Ruby and agrees to help her look into what happened to her brother.

This leads Evan on a wild ride, full of the best action and fight scenes, that kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to see how Evan was going to stop the bad guys. He is also faced with a man who seems to know all about him, and it

I love all of the people he surrounds himself with, Joey and Dog, Tommy, and even Candy.. I had no idea that i would actually end up liking her, I hope that we get many more books in this series, and I hope we get more of Evan and Agent Templeton. And after that ending, I can't wait to see what could possibly happen or be revealed in the next book!

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart


Review copy was received from Netgalley . This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I LOVE the Orphan X series. I recommend reading from the beginning, in order, for the character and world developments. Evan has grown and become more personable throughout the series. He is a support for the people at Castle Heights, especially Mia and Peter, and a parental figure, at least a caretaker for Joey. I was very worried for him starting this book. He violated the terms of his informal presidential "pardon" so now the government could come after him Instead, they want him to be their contract assassin. The pardon was always a fallacy because they could take it back anytime, plus if he was in the normal view, there would be people trying to kill him. He needs to stay hidden.

The Last Orphan starts out at a run and continues at a brisk pace. Evan agrees to look at the guy they want him to assassinate to see if it meets his criteria he uses as the Nowhere Man. He has a frenemy situation with Naomi Templeton but she knows he keeps his word. He looks at the target and also his security team. He talks to the ex-girlfriend but doesn't get the needed reasons he should die. But he finds out about others possibly hurt. And that does alert the security team to Evan and they start coming after him. He does find some young people who have suffered and died but who caused it?

Evan spends a lot of time and energy to find out who the true villains are. He risks himself a bit much and in the end has to have the help from Candy, Joey and Tommy. He really does have his own little trustworthy band. He and Joey progress and perhaps he will add to his people. But he separates himself from others to protect them. Evan chooses to live life by his own principles.

I look forward to more adventures with anxiety and hope. Evan continues to learn and grow, and help the desperate. He's getting older though. He does have more people and connections than ever before. Whatever happens, I'll be there.

The Last Orphan, by Gregg Hurwitz, is the 8th installment in the authors Orphan X series. After flying to Iceland to get a rare drink of vodka that is only served on the icy mountains, The Nowhere Man, aka Orphan X, former government assassin, is on his way to visit Mia Hall who has been in a coma for the past 2 months. But Secret Service Special Agent Naomi Templeton, and the US President Victoria Donahue-Cane have other ideas. Other ideas thanks to Evan violating the terms of his secret pardon.

Evan has been called an unsanctioned assassin by many, including Victoria who was installed, not elected. But Evan never once thought about leaking the details of the fabled Orphan Program which Victoria believes has ended, and Evan is the last of his kind. His motto is, it's amazing what you can accomplish if you truly believe that the world doesn't owe you anything. That's especially telling for the new millennials who believe they are entitled to everything free and don't have to work for everything.

So, after being captured, and treated like a terrorist, Evan is given an opportunity. If he ends he life of Luke Devine, who has his finger on some really high ranking and important people, including Senators who are holding up Victoria's agenda, he will be pardoned and can retire in peace. Evan has a code to only kill if the person really deserves such a fate, so he investigates this man and finds a great deal of corruption that requires him to use his fighting skills.

With a little help from 16-year-old Joey Morales, the infamous teen hacker, as well as Tommy Slojack, his armorer, Evan once again has to dig deep into the murders of two innocents. One a boy named Johnny Seabrook, and a girl named Angela Bufford. Thanks to the unrelenting posting of his younger sister, Ruby, Evan must call in a favor from the one person that you never figured would be a great addition to Evan's team: Candy McClure aka Orphan V. Candy is a hoot.

She's funny, she's dangerous, and she may have ended up on the bad side of Evan, but by now, the two are pretty spectacular when the work together. So, Evan, and Candy have to take on Luke's past, as well as the hired guns who are supposed to protect him. Even though Evan has taken on some really bad, bad, people over the course of this series, he still has his 10 commandments thanks to his mentor that he has never forgotten.

He still has a moral compass which he uses to make a choice of whether or not he's going to be intimidated by Jill Biden aka Victoria, or allow Elon Musk, aka Luke Devine, to live and do what he can to stop the President's trillion dollar Bill from being used to pad millionaire's pockets and ensure her probably election to 4 more years of running the country. There is a fourth character who Evan is now adding to his team and that's Aragon, the former smuggler who is going straight. Aragon is a cool character who pretty much helps Evan on a minutes notice.

On a personal issue, I adore Joey and Evan together. He's like the uncle she's been hoping for after a miserable childhood that saw her drummed out of the Orphan program. Add Tommy to the story and you have a bit of levity and comedy as well. Again, Tommy has been around for a very long time, and he's always got some sort of moment that gets to the heart of what's happening to Evan. So, thanks to Joey, and Tommy, and yes, Candy, this situation goes from an S3 (Shit Show Supreme) to something else entirely that leaves you wondering what happens next?

On a side note, Joey has been doing a side project for Evan. That side project is likely to be the reason for the open ending of this story. I look forward to seeing what happens next to this motley crew.

When I saw the title "The Last Orphan" , I thought "NOOOO, could this be the end to one of my favorite action-packed series?!". And then when I read about that missed shot, I knew it must be true.

The Last Orphan is the 8th book in the Orphan X series. I think this one could be read as a stand-alone. Sadly this was my least favorite book in the series. Usually these books are fast-paced with non-stop action but this one had a more melancholy and deeper feel to it. The Nowhere Man's job is never questionable. You always knew who the bad people were. To me Devine and X were similar. They are both judge and jury.

I think it's time for Orphan X to retire and start a spin-off with Orphan V (Candy). But of course I look forward to the next book in this series.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and Gregg Andrew Hurwitz for a copy of "The Last Orphan" in exchange of an honest review.

Many years ago Evan Smoak was taken from an orphanage and trained to be a top secret government assassin. When this series of books starts, he has left the program and is in hiding. He is trying to make up for his past by helping random people.

The series has been consistently good, I've given four out of five stars to six out of the eight books. Unfortunately, this is one of the three star books. The amazing twists and turns that keep you going in most of the books are just not there in this book. If you haven't read any of this series, start with the first one, Orphan X. If you have read the rest of the series, you should still read this one, but keep your expectations realistic.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

In this eighth book in the Orphan X series, the President has rescinded Evan’s pardon for his activities as an unsanctioned assassin for the government. In order to reinstate it, she tells him he must kill someone who has become politically inconvenient for her. She describes the influential billionaire as a bad guy, and there were a couple of young people whose murders may have been linked to him, but Evan isn’t convinced.

As Orphan X, he had to follow orders. As the Nowhere Man, he follows his own code, and his code says he doesn’t kill those who don’t deserve it, even if it would benefit him.

The story follows Evan as he tracks down the story of the two murders and how—and if—his potential target was involved. The action isn’t quite as dramatic as in some of his previous adventures, but that isn’t the sole draw of these books. Unlike in some series where the main character stays the same from the first book to the twentieth, Evan has changed over the course of the series. He’s feeling the years a bit physically, but more importantly, he has grown and evolved emotionally as a character. He’s not the same person he was in Book One, and his relationships with others—especially with Joey—are a real highlight of these stories.

I can’t wait to read what happens next for Evan and crew.

Hurwitz is a successful American thriller writer who has also written for both Marvel and DC Comics. This is the 8th novel in the 'Orphan X' series. The series revolves around a man (Evan) who was scooped up as a young orphan, with a group of others and trained by the government to be assassins. Now that the program has disbanded, the government has decided they are expendable and has been trying to eliminate them to protect their secrets. Evan has been using his skills to help people in trouble, while trying to stay under the government's radar, but in this book he is caught and offered amnesty if he eliminates a billionaire who has been blackmailing politicians, judges etc. This is a wonderful series for the thriller fan, but I do recommend starting with the first one, "Orphan X". I really enjoyed it.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley.com I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I am a huge fan of this series. You may be able to pick this series up in the middle but I like the evolution of Evan (orphan X). Evan always worked alone, he didn't like interacting with others. But recently he's been finding himself involved with his neighbor and her child, and a young girl named Joey who is an expert hacker and a failed Orphan from the latest time the government tried to start the program back up.

Joey is gone now, taking a break trying to find herself, and his neighbor is in the hospital leaving X alone which he used to love.

I loved this book as X starts to confront his aging and his strange new need for connection. He is also learning that sometimes working with a team is better than working alone.

The ending of this book is interesting and I'm anxious to learn how this may change or no Orphan X.

The eighth book in the Orphan X series is every bit as good as the first seven. This is one of my favorite thriller series. I enjoy the characters, the fast paced action driven plot, and the development of the relationships between the characters over the course of the series. If you haven't read any Orphan X, I suggest you start with the first book, simply titled Orphan X and read them in order. Highly recommended